Google admits it tracks users, but says it's 'to improve experience'

The Associated Press ran a story saying an many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store users' location data even if the users explicitly used a privacy setting forbidding that.

Technology News: After facing criticism over reports that certain Google apps track users' whereabouts even when they turn off location data, the tech giant has revised its Help Page, clarifying that it does track location data in order to "improve Google experience".

Previously, the Help Page stated: "You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored."

The page now says: "This setting does not affect other location services on your device, like Google Location Services and Find My Device.

"Some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like Search and Maps".

Google Tracks your Movements

The new language confirms that location data is, indeed, being tracked by some Google apps.

"We have been updating the explanatory language about Location History to make it more consistent and clear across our platforms and help centres," CNET reported on Friday, quoting a Google spokesperson.

The Associated Press earlier this week ran a story saying an investigation found that many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store users' location data even if the users explicitly used a privacy setting forbidding that...continue reading

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News Source: BS

 

Android 9 Pie with better privacy features, AI now available on Google Pixel

The revised OS version will offer a new dashboard to users to help them understand how they are spending time on their device.

 

Technology News: Tech giant Google today released Android 9 Pie, the latest version of its Android operating system that promises better user experience and enhanced privacy features.

The rollout comes at a time when users across the globe, including in India, are concerned about privacy and security of information on their smart devices.

The new OS version will start rolling out as an over-the-air update for Pixel phone users, while companies like Sony Mobile, Xiaomi, HMD Global, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Essential Phones as well as qualifying Android One will receive the update by the end of the year, Google said in a blogpost.

"We are also working with a number of other partners to launch or upgrade devices to Android 9 this year," it added.

Android 9 Pie

"Android 9 aims to make your phone even smarter by learning from you and adapting to your usage patterns. It also helps you get things done faster, like predicting what you'll want to do next based on your context and displaying that action right on your phone," Sameer Samat, Vice President of Product Management, Android and Google Play said.

Android 9, which harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI), has been built to make the phone smarter by learning from user behavior and adapting to usage patterns, the blog said.
"That's why Android 9 comes with features like Adaptive Battery, which learns the apps you use most and priorities battery for them, and Adaptive Brightness, which learns how you like to set the brightness in different settings, and does it for you," it noted.

Google will also roll out "Slices" later this year that will show relevant information from apps. For example, if a user starts typing 'Lyft' into Google Search, the user will see a "slice" of the Lyft app, showing prices for the ride and the estimated time of arrival to enable the user take action more quickly and…continue reading

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News Source : BS

OnePlus 6 to have glass design, nanotech coating: Details here

The OnePlus 6 will depart from the present trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body but retain the horizontal lines and curved design, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a blog post.

Technology News : OnePlus is gearing up to unveil the fifth iteration of its flagship smartphone, called the OnePlus 6. The smartphone will make a departure from the current trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body, but it would retain horizontal lines and curved design, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a blog post.

Little has so far been officially said about the notch screen-based OnePlus 6, except that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and have a 256GB storage variant paired with 8GB of RAM. But OnePlus has been teasing the features of the smartphone in the form of tweets and as part of other social media promotion activities – ingress protection (IP) rating for water and dust resistance, for example.

Now, talking about the design of the OnePlus 6, Pete Lau wrote a long blog explaining OnePlus’ approach to adopting new industrial designs. In the post, the CEO explained the rationale for the company’s move from a sandstone design in the OnePlus 1 to an aluminium design in the OnePlus 3, and now the glass design for the upcoming OnePlus 6. Lau also shared that the new glass build would contain five printed layers of Nanotech coating, which would give the device a stronger impression of depth.

The smartphone is expected to sport a dual-camera set-up on the back, utilising 16-megapixel and 20MP sensors placed vertically at the upper centre, instead of the horizontal set-up found in the current generation. The cameras on the back are followed by a rectangular shaped fingerprint sensor placed just below the camera unit. As for the front, the selfie camera is reported to feature a 20MP sensor of f/2.0 aperture size.

Nothing much has been officially confirmed, except that the OnePlus 6 would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and the top-end variant would get an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. However, the recent wireless certification also hints at the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations.

As for the price, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of the Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 and Rs 36,999, while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 and Rs 42,999, and the premium variant with 256GB storage between Rs 44,999 and Rs 48,999.

→ Oneplus 6 Features ←

Motorola unveils Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play: Know specs, features, price

Motorola has announced the Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play smartphones. Though the devices in this Moto series share the design theme, each has different specifications, features and prices. Details here.

Technology News : Lenovo-backed smartphone manufacturer Motorola has unveiled the sixth-generation Moto G-series smartphones – the Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play. The trio of smartphones runs on Google Android Oreo 8.0 and sports 18:9 screens, a first for Motorola devices, along with a fingerprint scanner, LED flash on the front and free subscription to store high-quality photos and videos on Google Photos.

Though the Moto G6 series of smartphones share their design theme with one another, each is different in terms of specifications and features. Here is what the Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus and Moto G6 Play offer:

Moto G6

The Moto G6 is placed in between the premium Moto G6 Plus and Moto G6 Play. As a result, the device maintains balance between the two and comes with a mix bag of premium and cost effective features.
The phone features an all-glass design using the Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and back, sandwiching a metallic chassis in between. It sports a 5.7-inch IPS screen of fullHD+ resolution. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage variants, respectively. In terms of imaging, the phone boasts dual cameras on the back -- 12-megapixel and 5MP – of f/1.8 aperture. There is an 8MP selfie camera on the front, coupled with LED flash. For multimedia enthusiasts, the phone features dual front-facing stereo speakers powered by Dolby audio.
The Moto G6 is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone comes bundled with a 15W TurboCharger in the box.

Moto G6 Plus

The Moto G6 Plus, as the name suggests, offers the most premium features in the Moto G6 family.
The phone sports a 5.9-inch IPS screen of fullHD+ resolution. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC, paired with 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB and 128 GB of storage, respectively.
In terms of imaging, the phone sports a 12 MP and 5 MP dual camera on the back. The camera boasts Dual Pixel autofocus and is capable to record ultra-high-definition 4K videos. On the front, the phone sports an 8MP selfie camera with face filters feature and LED selfie flash.
The phone is powered by a 3,200 mAh battery and comes with a 15W TurboPower charger.

Moto G6 Play

The most affordable of the Moto G6 series, the Moto G6 Play sports a 5.7-inch HD+ screen. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The phone is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery, which can last up to 36 hours on a single charge – according to company’s claims. The phone also gets 15W TurboPower charger, similar to the one bundled with the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus.
In terms of camera, the phone features a single 13MP unit on the back and an 8MP selfie shooter on the front.
As for the availability, the Moto G6 family is currently moving to Europe and US, and there is no official confirmation around the India launch. As for the prices, the Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus and Moto G6 Play cost euro 250, euro 300 and euro 200, respectively.

Oppo F7 Review: Notch screen-based smartphone designed for selfie admirers

Priced at Rs 21,990 for the base model (64GB/4GB), the Oppo F7 seems to be a modern-day device designed for the millennials and social media enthusiasts with a knack for selfies.

Technology News : Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo, known for its selfie-centric devices, has become one of the first companies to introduce a notch screen-based Android device in India by launching the Oppo F7. The smartphone’s key features centre around its ultra-wide notch-based screen, a 25-megapixel selfie camera and artificial intelligence-backed scene optimisation.

The Oppo F7 seems to pack some punch on the specification sheet, especially with its 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in the top-end version. However, this selfie-centric smartphone delivers primarily on the imaging front more than any other aspect.

The Oppo F7 on several parameters to test its overall capabilities, and here are our observations:

The Oppo F7 packs a 6.22-inch fullHD+ screen in a glass-metal-glass sandwiched design. It feels light in hand, and its compact body, measuring almost equal to the conventional 5.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio screen-based smartphones, is comfortable to hold and operate.

Talking about the screen, the glass on top of it seems to resist the touch response. The touch response seems like a mixed bag of hits and misses. The glass does register the touch but the screen shows some signs of lag, especially while scrolling a lengthy web page or YouTube videos playlist.

Coming to the imaging part, the Oppo F7 boasts a 16-megapixel sensor with f/1.8 aperture on the rear, and a 25MP sensor with f/2.0 on the front. The selfie camera has several software enhancements that aid the smartphone’s face-unlocking mechanism, and enhance the image output using artificial intelligence-based scene-selection modes.

Both the rear and front cameras offer satisfactory output. However, the strong post-processing tends to make images look artificial. For millennials and social media enthusiasts, the imaging in the Oppo F7 offers almost a complete package – including beautification, filters, etc. However, serious photographers might not appreciate the image output for its unnatural output.

Verdict → Oppo F7 Review

Priced at Rs 21,990 for the base model with 64 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM, the phone seems to be on a pricier side and lacks the overall dynamism. However, if cost is not the constraint, the Oppo F7 could be a modern-day device designed for millennials and social media enthusiasts with a knack for selfies.

OnePlus 6 is expected to launch sometime this month or early next month. While nothing has been made official, the phone is expected to feature a new glass design and come in multiple colors.

Technology News : The upcoming OnePlus 6 smartphone from the stable of Chinese mobile phone manufacturer OnePlus is reported to come in at least three colour variants – black, white and blue – according to a leak reported on the China-based online technology portal GizmoChina.

The leak around the OnePlus 6, making rounds of the internet, hints at the possible design, imaging set-up, specifications, features and price of the upcoming midrange device.

While the OnePlus 6 screen’s notch and redesigned glossy back have been revealed in the past, suggesting a possible glass design, the new leak from the phone’s case maker brand Olivar showcased the phone’s complete front side, along with a glimpse of a new camera placement on the back.

According to image renders, the back side of the OnePlus 6 seems to get a major upgrade with new glass-based design, instead of the metallic build that the current generation boasts. However, a teaser image shared by the company on Twitter hints at an aluminium chassis, similar to the one found in the current-generation model, the OnePlus 5T.

In terms of imaging, the smartphone is expected to sport a dual-camera set-up on the back, utilising 16-megapixel and 20MP sensors placed vertically at the upper centre, instead of the horizontal set-up found in the current generation. The cameras on the back are followed by a rectangular shaped fingerprint sensor placed just below the camera unit. As for the front, the selfie camera is reported to feature a 20MP sensor of f/2.0 aperture size.

Nothing much has been officially confirmed, except that the OnePlus 6 would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and the top-end variant would get an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. However, the recent wireless certification also hints at the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations.

As for the price, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of the Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 and Rs 36,999, while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 and Rs 42,999, and the premium variant with 256GB storage between Rs 44,999 and Rs 48,999.

→ OnePlus 6 Price

Nokia 7 Plus First Impressions: Affordable performer, challenger to mighty

The smartphone’s first impressions suggest the Nokia 7 Plus is a capable performer that feels light in hand and looks plush from all sides.

Technology News : In time, when most smartphone makers are adopting iPhone X-inspired notch screen, Nokia seems to be catching up on yesteryear’s trend by launching the Nokia 7 Plus – the first smartphone with the modern 18:9 screen from the stable of HMD Global, the Finnish company behind the Nokia-branded phones.

While there is no dearth of ultra-wide aspect ratio screen devices, the Nokia 7 Plus seems to be the most polished version, at least in the Nokia portfolio. In terms of look and feel, the device’s build quality seems solid, thanks to the aluminium back, copper-layered chassis and Gorilla Glass on the front. Despite having a tall instance, the device feels comfortable in hand and is easy to operate. The ceramic-type coating on the back adds to the overall aesthetics while making it less prone to accidental falls.

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 64 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM, the phone seems to work smoothly and shows no signs of lag anywhere. Even the heavy processor-intensive apps such as graphic-intensive games — Need for Speed No Limits and Asphalt Nitro – the phone manages to perform without heating up or slowing down the performance. The phone boots Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box and supports Google Android One initiative, assuring timely updates and vanilla Android experience with no bloatware pre-installed.

Coming to the imaging part, the phone is aimed at content creators, so it boasts Nokia’s dual sight camera feature, which allows using the front camera and back camera simultaneously to capture both the ends. Talking about camera, the phone boasts dual rear-cameras with ZEISS Optics. The dual sensors use an ultra-sensitive 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 13MP telephoto lens that supports 2x optical zoom.

The rear cameras have a decent performance in low-light conditions and normal light shots seems satisfactory. That apart, the smartphone has a 16MP lens on the front that seems to fair well for selfies and video calls. Battery seems to be the key highlight of the Nokia 7 Plus. Powered by a 3,800 mAh battery, the phone easily lasts for up to 2 days under normal usage conditions, which includes 3-4 hours of gaming or movies. The phone features a USB type-C port, which support fast-charging and replenishes the battery power from zero to 50 per cent in almost half an hour.

Overall, the Nokia 7 Plus seems to be a capable performer with an attractive price tag of Rs 25,999. The phone feels light in hand and looks plush for all sides. The 18:9 aspect ratio screen adds to the aesthetics and we appreciate it over notch-based screen – in terms of utility.

Also Read  → Nokia 8 Sirocco

OnePlus 6 Indian price, colour themes leaked: Specs, features & more

OnePlus 6 might be out soon and its 64GB, 128GB and 256GB variants may cost between Rs 33,999 to Rs 36,999, Rs 38,999 to Rs 42,999 and Rs 44,999 to Rs 48,999, respectively.

Technology News : OnePlus is gearing up to unveil notch screen-based OnePlus 6 sometime this month or early next month. However, the leaks of the smartphone have been making rounds on the internet hinting at the possible design theme, imaging set-up, specifications, features and price of the upcoming midrange device.

While the OnePlus 6 notch-based screen and the wooden back cover has been revealed in the past, the new leak showcases the phone’s new colour variants hinting at possible glass-based design, instead of metallic build that the current generation boasts. However, based on leaks, it is assumed that the phone would sport an aluminium frame, similar to the one found in current generation model – the OnePlus 5T.

In an interview with an online technology portal The Verge, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Carl Pei hinted that the upcoming flagship would sport a bigger display. He, however, did not mention the exact screen size and, based on leaks, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 would boast a 6.28-inch screen.

The OnePlus 6 would be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC). The top-end variant would get 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage – as confirmed by the company in an official teaser. However, the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations are also expected to be part of upcoming phone’s variants line-up.

The OnePlus 5T’s dual rear-cameras and modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen have been the core marketing features. However, for the OnePlus 6, the focus is solely on the notch-based screen and the information around camera is scarce – both from company’s side and through leaks. The silence around imaging hints at no major breakthrough in the front and back camera. Based on leaked specifications, however, the upcoming midrange smartphone is expected to sport 20-megapixel and 16MP resolution rear sensors with f/1.7 aperture on both the lenses. On the front, the phone is reported to get a new 20MP sensor with bright f/2.0 aperture lens.

Talking about the price, OnePlus has been raising the price of its devices with every successive generation. And, based on Indian price leak, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 to Rs 36,999 while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 to Rs 42,999 and the premium variant with 256GB storage may cost between Rs 44,999 to Rs 48,999.

Based on these prices, it can be assumed that OnePlus might unveil 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations with internal storage variants. Therefore, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 base model with 64GB internal storage, along with 128GB and 256GB variants, might also get 8GB RAM configuration.

Honor 10 teaser shows Huawei P20-inspired design, dual camera: Details here

The Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 SoC, coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It is reported to feature an iPhone X-inspired 5.8-inch notch-based fullHD+ screen.

Technology News : Honor, the online subsidiary of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei, is gearing up to unveil the Honor 10 smartphone on May 15 in London. The Honor-branded smartphones, as seen in the past, take cues from Huawei P-series and Mate-series flagship devices, so the Honor 10 is expected to be inspired by the Huawei P20-series phones.

According to an alleged official banner leaked on Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Honor 10 is reported to feature a glossy multi-colour back panel, similar to Huawei P20. The alleged phone image also shows a dual rear-camera unit placed horizontally on the top left corner. However, the fingerprint scanner is not visible on the back, so it is assumed to have been put on the front side below the screen.

Just like the Huawei P20-series, the Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. The phone is reported to sport an iPhone X-inspired 5.8-inch notch-based screen with fullHD+ resolution.

Being a cost-effective substitute to the premium Huawei P20-series smartphones, the Honor 10 might shed the Leica lens in favour of the company’s in-house imaging solution.

The phone’s camera is also expected to feature artificial intelligence-based scene selection and other camera modes. However, the AI-based camera feature in the Honor 10 might be limited in comparison with the Huawei P20-series smartphones.

Super-slow-motion videos at 960 frames per second (FPS) are another camera feature that might not be there in the Honor 10. However, the phone is expected to capture 480FPS slow-mo video at a 720p resolution.

The Honor 10 is expected to feature Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0, with system-wide AI integration for enhanced user experience. As for the price, Honor phones usually get an affordable price tag when compared with the Huawei P-series and Mate-series smartphones. Therefore, the Honor 10 is expected to be priced in the mid range, rather than premium, especially in India.

→ Honor View 10 Review ←

Razer Phone with gaming-ready 120Hz display, dual-camera set-up launched

The phone is launched at a price tag of $700, which makes it a worthy challenger in flagship smartphone race, especially with gaming-oriented features

 

 

Razer, a gaming-centric technology company based in Singapore, has officially unveiled its first gaming smartphone -- Razer Phone. The smartphone runs on Android operating system and boots Nougat out of the box with a promised Oreo update scheduled for the first quarter of 2018.

The Razer Phone brings some of the first technology advancements in the smartphone arena. The phone sports a 5.7-inch LCD screen of QHD resolution with wide color gamut and 120Hz refresh rate, a first for any smartphone available until now.

The Razer Phone features an adaptive refresh technology, which according to company’s claims syncs the GPU and the display to ensure lag-free performance at high frame rates without compromising the battery life. The phone offers dedicated amplifier powered stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos.

The Razer Phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor coupled with 8 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. The phone sports dual camera set-up on the back that utilises a 12-megapixel primary lens of f/1.75 aperture and a 13 MP fixed focus lens of f/2.6 aperture. On the front, the smartphone uses an 8 MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture. There is a fingerprint scanner housed under power key on the side.

The Razer Phone forgo 3.5mm audio jack and houses USB type-C, which doubles as charging, data transfer and audio port. The phone is launched at a price tag of $700, which makes it a worthy challenger in flagship smartphone race – especially with the gaming-oriented features.

Click here to Know → Technology News

Emojis might be your next password. Here's why

People commonly use emojis to express moods, emotions and nuances in emails and text messages

Current News :  Would you rather unlock your smartphone with a plain four-digit PIN or with a smiley-face emoji? Would it be easier and more pleasant to remember emojis for example, or “2476”?

Smartphone users commonly use emojis to express moods, emotions and nuances in emails and text messages – and even communicate entire messages only with emojis. In 2015, a British company tried using emoji passcodes in place of PINs at bank ATMs. But there had been no formal study of how easy they were to use, or how secure they were in comparison to other methods, like PINs.

⇒ Want To Shed Extra Kilos? Try Eating Avocados ⇐

To learn more, in the lab and in the real world, a team of researchers from the Technical University Berlin, Ulm University and University of Michigan, led by TU Berlin Ph.D. candidate Lydia Kraus, developed EmojiAuth, an emoji-based login system for Android smartphones. How well would users remember their emoji passcodes? Could they be more secure, too? And might they be more fun, adding a bit of enjoyment every time a user unlocked her phone? (read more...)

Facebook debuts 'Live Audio' on its platform, similar to podcast and radio

Android users will be able to continue listening to a Live Audio broadcast even if they leave Facebook app or lock their phones

 Breaking News - After successfully rolling out the facebook  live video feature, Facebook has now introduced "Live Audio" option — like traditional radio or podcasting — in your News Feed where users will be able to broadcast audio directly to the social network.

"We know that sometimes publishers want to tell a story on Facebook with words and not video. Our new 'Live Audio' option makes it easy to go live with audio only when that's the broadcaster's preferred format," said Shirley Ip, Product Specialist, and Bhavana Radhakrishnan, Software Engineer at Facebook in a blog post on Tuesday.

Facebook Introduces New Doodle Programme To Compete With Google

"One thing we've heard is that partners want new formats for going live. We announced Live 360 last week, and today we're excited to announce another way to go live on Facebook," they added.

Facebook has witnessed some Pages find creative ways to go live and reach audiences with audio only by using the Facebook Live API or by adding a still image to accompany their audio broadcast.

Read Article Source>>>

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WhatsApp introduces new camera features

Instant mobile messaging app WhatsApp on Tuesday introduced new ways to customize and enhance the photos and videos you share with friends and family around the world.

With WhatsApp's new camera features, people can now write or draw on photos and videos as well as add emojis to express themselves.

"Now, when you capture a new photo or video or share one which is already on your phone, you will automatically see the new editing tools," WhatsApp said in a post.

WhatsApp has also added a convenient zooming feature for recording videos.

Just slide your finger up and down to zoom in and out and supports the front-facing flash.

The new camera features will roll out on Android phones starting Tuesday and on Apple iPhones soon.

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